FURNESS has the lowest rate of school leavers attending university in the country, according to new figures.

Statistics from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service showed that only 13 per cent of those leaving school in the Barrow and Furness constituency went on to universities after completing sixth form.

The figure is a stark contrast to the area with the highest rate of teenagers going on to university - Wimbledon with 70 per cent.

Reactions to the new figures were mixed, with a number of different education routes on offer in the area.

Figures do not include school leavers directly enrolled into higher education courses at colleges in the area.

A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said: "In the Barrow area there are lots of alternative pathways including apprenticeships and degree level apprenticeships.

"Many young people see this as a preferable pathway."

Meanwhile, University of Cumbria Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL had her say, with a new campus due to come to Barrow and form a new Learning Quarter.

She said: “Our university was formed to deliver higher education and high level skills to and from Cumbria and we top the North West for graduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation.

"We achieve this through a myriad of different programmes and routes through higher education, from the traditional on campus UG experience through to work-based learning and degree apprenticeships - the latter which have very high take up rates here in Cumbria and are vital to equip our workforce and sectors.

“Our campus that is currently under construction is a major part of the Barrow Learning Quarter, which is the largest project of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal funded programme.

"The Learning Quarter will be transformational in extending further the education reach and offer in Barrow, building upon our existing collaborations  (including with BAE Systems) and partnerships to meet long-term high-level skills needs in areas spanning engineering, business, computing and project management through to nursing, allied health and medicine.

“Working alongside our partners, the Learning Quarter will provide inclusive and accessible opportunities for individuals as well as our region, impacting on place and people for generations to come.”

A poll last month found nearly a third of people think a university education is not worth the time and money.

The study, which surveyed more than 2,600 British people in May and more than 1,000 in June, found 31 per cent agreed university education is not worth the amount of time and money it usually takes.

This is higher than in 2018 when fewer than a fifth (18 per cent) of the public said university was not worth it.